Washing machine



Dec. 20, 1938 A. w. MOLJNARE 2,140,846

WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1957 Dec. 20,1938. w.MOLINARE 2,140,846

WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 20,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics WASHING MACHINE Application-(hotelier9, 1937, Serial No. 188,110

t Claims.

The present invention is directed to certain novel improvements inwashing machines, such as used in the household, and more particularly,to machines of the type wherein the impeller member is mountedsubstantially centrally in the tub, and in spaced apart relation to theWalls and bottom thereof, to permit free circulation of the washingfluid and clothes around and beneath the impeller member. 'Moreespecially, the present invention is directed to an improved form ofimpeller member for use in washing machines of the type wherein theimpeller member is vertically reciprocated within the tub.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a novel formof impeller member which is capable of producing an improved action ofthe washing fluid and clothes immersed therein for performing an emcientcleansing operation upon the clothes.

Another object is to provide a novel form of impeller member of the typeadapted to be vertically reciprocated in the tub of the washing machine,and which is constructed and arranged to cause the washing fluid andclothes immersed. therein to move outwardly from the impeller member atan angle oblique to a radial plane, and causing the clothes to be turnedover and flexed at frequent intervals by the reciprocation of theimpeller member.

A further object of this invention resides in the provisoin of a noveland improved form of impeller member of the character indicated, byvirtue of which the fluid and clothes during one direction ofreciprocation of the impeller member are caused to move outwardly at anangle oblique to a radial plane, and during the opposite direction ofreciprocation of the impeller member, the fluid and clothes are causedto move outwardly at an angle oblique to a radial plane, in a generallyopposite direction to the above mentioned movement'caused by the otherdirection of reciprocation of the impeller member.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved form of impeller member of the character indicated, whichcauses frequent turning, rolling and flexing of the clothes forperforming an emcient cleansing operationthereon, and which does notcause excessive beating or wear and tear upon the clothes.

Still another object resides in the provision of an improved form ofvertically reciprocating impeller member, by virtue of which the fluidand clothes are, during alternate directions of recip rocatory movementof the impeller, imparted reversible circulatory movement around the im-(or. team) peller member; said circulatory movement being greater in onedirection than in the other.

Other objects and advantages ofthis invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, part in elevation, part in section, of a washingmachine provided with the novel form of impeller member, embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tub of the washing machine, showing "mynovel form of impeller member.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the impeller member.

Fig. 4 is a view of the impeller member in side elevation, part insection.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the impellermember, taken as indicated at line 55 on Fig. 2.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the washing machinecomprises an upwardly open tub ill, herein shown as of circular form,provided with a depending skirt l i, to which is rigidly secured aplurality of depending legs 12 for supporting the tub in proper spacedrelation to the floor. The lower ends of the legs are connected togetherand braced by a frame M, which serves as a reinforcing structure, and inaddition, provides support for suitable driving mechanism for my novelform ofimpeller member which is herein designated generally at 15, andwhich is disposed centrally within the tub I0.

The driving mechanism for the impeller member i5 comprises an electricmotor I8, provided with a driving pulley H, which through the medium ofa belt I8 drives a pulley l9. It is to be understood that the pulley I9is connected in a conventional manner to a worm gear speed reducermechanism of conventional design, enclosed within the housing 20. Theworm gear (not shown) may be understood to be mounted on a horizontalshaft, and mounted on the outer end of said shaft is a crank arm 22.Pivotally connected by a pin 23 to the outer end 01 the crank arm, is apitman 24, which extends in an upwardly direction, having its upper endjournaled on a pin 26, carried in a block 21, rigidly secured by a pin28 to a vertically reciprocating impeller shaft 29, the upper end ofwhich protrudes upwardly through the bottom of the tub l0, and oniiiment, while the motor I6 is in operation, and it will also be manifestthat the drive mechanism herein disclosed may be arranged as desired forobtaining any suitable number of reciprocations of said shaft 29 andimpeller member |5 in a predetermined interval of time.

As may be seen in the drawings, the impeller shaft 29 extends throughthe bottom of the tub through an opening I0 while its lower end isreciprocally guided in a bearing 3|, disposed in the upper end of anupstanding tubular standard 32, which is secured by means of a fitting33 at its lower end to the frame l4.

Surrounding the upper portion of the impeller shaft 29, which protrudesinto the tub, is an upstanding tubular standard 35, the lower of whichis formed with a flange 36, forming a transverse shoulder adapted to beseated tightly against the bottom of the tub, surrounding the openingI0, with a gasket 31 interposed between said flange and the bottom ofthe tub. Said flange portion 36 includes a depending externally threadedportion 38, projecting downwardly through the opening I0 below the tub,and threaded into a block 39, the upper end of which forms a transverseshoulder for tightly seating against the under surface of the bottom ofthe tub, surrounding the aperture I0, with a gasket 40, interposedtherebetween. The bottom of the block 39 is formed with depending ears39, rigidly secured to a cross member 4|, which in turn is secured tothe inner wall of the skirt II. It will now be apparent that when thelower end of the tubular standard 35 is tightly threaded into the block39, with the gasket members 31 and 40 interposed therebetween, afluid-tight seal is formed around the opening Ill in the bottom of thetub.

It is to be understood that the tubular standard 35 projects upwardlyinto the interior of the tubular body portion l5 of the impeller membera substantial distance, preferably above the normal level of water inthe tub, so asto avoid the necessity of a water seal. It is also to beunderstood that the upper end of the impeller shaft 29 is provided witha suitable head or block (not shown) for engaging in a socket I5 formedin the upper end of the tubular body portion l5 of the impeller member,and the impeller member is rigidly secured to said block by means of aset screw |5.

The impeller member, designated generally at 5, preferably is formed asa casting and includes a main transversely extending circular bodyportion 50 of substantially circular outline. Said body portion, as maybe seen in the drawings, is formed with upper and lower surfaces 5|) and50, on each of which are integrally formed a set of vanes 5| and 52,respectively, extending above and below the body portion 50 andconnected to the tubular body portion l5. These respective sets of vanesare circumferentially spaced apart, preferably equal distances, and asherein shown in each instance are four in number,

with the vanes of one set vertically aligned with the vanes of theother-set, but manifestly, this arrangement may be varied if desired. Asmay be seen in the-drawings, the upper set of vanes 5| are ofconsiderably greater vertical extent than the lower set of vanes 52. Acorresponding set of faces of the upper set of vanes, as indicated, at5| are sloped or curved at an angle to vertical, while their oppositefaces 5| lie substantially in vertical planes, and are substantiallyflat surfaces. The bottom set of vanes 52 are disposed in opposedrelation to the upper set of vanes 5|, and have a set of correspondingfaces, designated at 52*, sloped or curved at an angle to vertical, in adirection opposite to the faces 5| of the upper vanes. The faces 52 ofsaid lower vanes are substantially flat, and lie substantially invertical planes.

It will now be apparent that the sloping or inclined faces of therespective sets of vanes, being disposed in opposite relation, willduring opposite reciprocations of the impeller member, cause oppositeactions upon the washing fluid and clothes immersed therein. In otherwords, during one direction of movement of the impeller member, thewashing fluid and clothes will be projected in an outwardly direction atan angle oblique to a radial plane, and causing circulatory movement ofthe body of washing fluid and clothes, and during the oppositereciprocation of the impeller member, the washing fluid and clothes arecaused to move in an opposite general circulatory direction. However,due to the fact that the lower set of vanes, designated at 52, are ofsubstantially less vertical extent than the upper set of vanes 5|, theamount of action on the washing fluid and clothes by said lower set ofvanes will be materially less than the action caused by the upper set ofvanes 5|. By virtue of this differential, it will be apparent thatduring continuous reciprocatory movement of the impeller member, thebody of clothes will move first in a circulatory path in one direction,and will then be returned in the opposite direction a lesser amount sothat there will be a gradual advance of the clothes in a circulatorypath around the tub in a direction corresponding to the direction ofmovement caused by the action of the upper set of vanes 5|.

The upper end of the impeller member is formed with a substantiallytransversely extending head 53 the under portion of which 'is formedwith an annular recess, as indicated at 53, for the purpose ofdeflecting currents of the washing fluid in a downward direction toeliminate the splash of the fluid during the reciprocation of theimpeller member.

For purpose of illustration, I have herein diagrammatically shown inFigs. 1 and 2, by full line arrows, the theoretical path of travel ofthe washing fluid and clothes during the up-stroke of the impellermember, while the arrows indicated by dotted lines in these respectiveviews indicate the theoretical path of travel of the washing fluid andclothes during the down stroke of the impeller member. By virtue of theconstruction embodying this invention, it will be apparent that duringthe up-stroke of the impeller member I5, the washing fluid and clothesare moved in a multiplicity of directions. The body of fluid and clothesat the upper portion of the tub are moved outwardly, and downwardly, andthen inwardly and upwardly, which movements are combined with andmodified by the non-radial, reversible circulatory movements imparted tothe washing fluid and clothes by the sloping surfaces 5| of the upperset of vanes 5|. Upon the down-stroke of the impeller member the washingfluid and clothes at the upper portion of the tub are caused to moveinwardly toward the center of the tub, then in a downwardly direction,and thence outwardly over the bottom portion of the tub, and again in anupwardly direction to complete a circulatory path of movement in atheoretical vertical plane, which is modified by the circulatorymovements as above described, caused by the sloping surfaces 52* of thelower set of vanes 52. Such action of the fluid and clothes results infrequent rolling, turning and flexing of the clothes to perform anefllcient cleansing operation thereon. Moreover, the action, althoughvigorous, is gentle on the clothes and does not impose severe strains orabrading action on the fabric.

It is to be understood; that the term clothes used herein and in theclaims is to be accorded the general meaning in the art, namely, asincluding any washable fabric or sheet material in addition to wearingapparel.

Although I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement ofparts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not,therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to theprecise embodiment herein disclosed, except as it may be so limited bythe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adapted to containwashing fluid and clothes to be washed, and a vertically reciprocatingimpeller shaft extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub; of animpeller member mounted on said shaft, within the tub, said membercomprising a body portion of substantial area extendingtransversely ofthe axis of the tub, a-set of circumferentially spaced apart verticallydisposed vanes extending upwardly from said body, and a second set ofcircumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanes extendingdownwardly from said body, corresponding faces of one set of vanes beingdisposed at an angle oblique to vertical, and corresponding faces of theother set of vanesbeing disposed at an angle oblique to vertical inopposite relation to the oblique faces of the first set ofvanes, wherebyreciprocation of said impeller in one direction causes the washing fluidand clothes to move outwardly from the impeller in a path at an angle toa radial plane, and reciprocation of the impeller in the other directioncauses the washing fluid and clothes to move outwardly in an oppositenon-radial direction.

2. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adapted to containwashing fluid and clothes to be washed, and a vertically reciprocatingimpeller shaft extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub; of animpeller member mounted on said shaft, within the tub, said membercomprising a body portion of a substantial area extending transverselyof the axis of the tub, a set of circumferentially spaced apartvertically disposed vanes extending upwardly from said body, and asecond set of circumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanesextending downwardly from said body, one set of vanes being of lessvertical extent than the other set, corresponding faces of one set ofvanes being dis-' posed at an angle oblique to vertical, andcorresponding faces of the other set of vanes being disposed at an angleoblique to vertical in opposite relation to the oblique faces of thefirst set of vanes, whereby reciprocation .of said impeller in onedirectioncauses the washing fluid and clothes to move outwardly fromthe'impeller in a path at an angle to a radial plane, and reciprocationof the impeller in the other direction causes the washing fluid andclothes to move outwardly in an opposite non-radial direction.

clothes to be washed, and a vertically reciprocating impeller shaftextending upwardly through the bottom of the tub; of an impeller membermounted on said shaft, within the tub, said member comprising a bodyportion of substantial area extending transversely of the axis of thetub, a set of circumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanesextending upwardly from said body, and a-second set 'ofcircumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanes extendingdownwardly from said body, the last mentioned set of vanes being of lessvertical extent than the first mentioned set of vanes, correspondingfaces of one set of vanes being disposed at an angle oblique tovertical, and corresponding faces of the other set of vanes beingdisposed at an angle oblique to vertical in opposite relation to theoblique faces of the first set of vanes, whereby reciprocation of saidimpeller in one direction causes the washing fluid and clothes to moveoutwardly from the impeller in a path at an angle to a radial plane, andreciprocation of the impeller in the other direction causes the washingfluid and clothes to move outwardly in an opposite non-radial direction.

4. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adapted to containwashing fluid and clothes to be washed, and a vertically reciprocatingimpeller shaft extending upwardly through the bottom of ;the tub; of animpeller member mounted on said shaft, within the tub, said membercomprising a body portionof substantial area extending transversely ofthe axis of the tub, a set of circumferentially spaced apart verticallydisposed vanes extending upwardly from said body, and a second set ofcircumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanes extendingdownwardly from said body, corresponding faces of one set of vanes beingdisposed at an angle oblique to vertical, and corresponding faces of theother set of vanes being disposed at an angle oblique to vertical inopposite relation to the oblique faces of the first set of vanes, theopposite faces of one set of vanes lying substantially in verticalplanes, whereby reciprocation of said impeller in one direction causesthe washing fluid and clothes to move outwardly from the impeller in apath at an angle to a radial plane, and reciprocation of the impeller inthe other direction causes the washing fluid and clothes to moveoutwardly in an opposite non-radial direction.

5. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adapted to containwashing fluid and clothes to be washed, and a vertically reciprocatingimpeller shaft extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub; of animpeller member mounted on said shaft, within the tub, said membercomprising a body portion of substantial area extendin'g transversely ofthe axis of the tub, a set of circumferentially spaced apart verticallydisposed vanes extending upwardly from said body, and a second set ofcircumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanes extendingdownwardly from said body, corresponding faces of one set, of vanesbeing disposed atan angle oblique to vertical, and corresponding facesof the other set of vanes being disposed at an angle oblique to verticalin opposite relation to the oblique faces of the first set ofvanes, theopposite faces of said sets of vanes lying substantially in verticalplanes, whereby reciprocation of said impeller in one direction causesthe washing fluid and clothes to move outwardly from the impeller in apath at an angle to a radial plane, and reciprocation of the impeller inthe other direction causes the washing fluid and clothes to moveoutwardly in an opposite non-radial direction.

6. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adapted to containwashing fluid and clothes to be washed, and a vertically reciprocatingimpeller shaft extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub; of animpeller member mounted on said shaft, within the tub, said membercomprising a body portion of substantial area extending transversely ofthe axis of the tub, a set of circumferentially spaced apart verticallydisposed vanes extending upwardly from said body, and a second set ofcircumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanes extendingdownwardly from said body, one set of vanes being of less verticalextent than the other set, corresponding faces of one set of vanes beingdisposed at an angle oblique to vertical, and corresponding faces of theother set of vanes being disposed at an angle oblique to vertical inopposite relation to the oblique faces of the first set of vanes, theopposite faces of said sets of vanes lying substantially in verticalplanes, whereby reciprocation of said impeller in one direction causesthe washing fluid and clothes to move outwardly from the impeller in apath at an angle to a radial plane, and reciprocation of the impeller inthe other direction causes the washing fluid and clothes to moveoutwardly in an opposite non-radial direction.

7. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adapted to containwashing fluid and clothes to be washed, and a vertically reciprocatingimpeller shaft extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub; of animpeller member mounted on said shaft, within the tub, said membercomprising a body portion of substantial area extending transversely ofthe axis of the tub, a. set of circumferentially spaced apart verticallydisposed.

vanes extending upwardly from said body, and a. second set ofcircumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanes extendingdownwardly from said body, the last mentioned set of vanes being of lessvertical extent than the other set, corresponding faces of one set ofvanes being disposed at an angle oblique to vertical, and correspondingfaces of the other set of vanes being disposed at an angle oblique tovertical in opposite relation to the oblique faces of the first set ofvanes, the opposite faces of said sets of vanes lying substantially invertical planes, whereby reciprocation of said impeller in one directioncauses the washing fluid and clothes to move outwardly from the impellerin a path at an angle to a radial plane, and reciprocation of theimpeller in the other direction causes the washing fluid and clothes tomove outwardly in an opposite non-radial direction.

8. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adapted to containwashing fluid and clothes to be washed, and a vertically reciprocatingimpeller shaft extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub; of animpeller member mounted on said shaft, within the tub, said membercomprising a body portion of substantial area extending transversely ofthe axis of the tub, a set of circumferentially spaced apart verticallydisposed vanes extending upwardly from said body, a second set ofcircumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanes extendingdownwardly from said body, and a transversely extending head spacedaxially above said body portion and said first mentioned set of vanes,corresponding faces of one set of vanes being disposed at an angleoblique to vertical, and corresponding faces of the other set of vanesbeing disposed at an angle oblique to vertical in opposite relation tothe oblique faces of the flrst set of vanes, whereby reciprocation ofsaid impeller in one direction causes the washing fluid and clothes tomove outwardly from the impeller in a path at an angle to a. radialplane, and reciprocation of the impeller in the other direction .causesthe washing fluid andclothes to move outwardly in an opposite non-radialdirection.

ANTHONY W. MOLINARE.

